Nik Pervan: Building a winning race car

ABOUT ME

I am a 17-year-old aspiring racecar driver from New Zealand. Ever since the age of nine I have been involved in motorsport. Like many successful racecar drivers I started in karting, which I spent seven years in. I have now taken the next step in my journey to becoming a professional race car driver by moving into Formula First.

I’ve always had an interest in motorsport, on the track and also further in-depth to the engineering and design of race cars themselves. Growing up I spent most of my spare time in the workshop - I learnt to weld when I was 10.

Currently I am a student studying at Waikato Institute of Technology, also know as Wintec. I am studying Certificate in Motorsport level 3. This course has improved my knowledge and provided me with the necessary skills for this project.

WHAT IS FORMULA FIRST?

Formula First is an entry level single seater racing class where the emphasis is on driver skill and race-craft rather than horsepower or budget.

Formula First is a relatively low-cost formula and provides the best place to start a car racing career.

Many of New Zealand’s most successful drivers made their racing start in Formula First. Drivers who have progressed through New Zealand Formula First include;

•Scott Dixon - Indy Racing League Driver

•Chris Pither - Aussie V8 Development Series Driver

•Brendon Hartley - Red Bull Development Driver

•Simon Gamble - NZ Grand Prix Winner

•Christina Orr - Formula Toyota

•Shane van Gisbergen - current New Zealand Formula Ford Champion

MY EXPERIENCE

I have already had the opportunity to work with one of the country’s best race car builders Nick Mitchell from MRX (Mitchell Race Xtreme) and have had four days work experience in v8 supercar team Dick Johnson Racing at the ITM 500 Auckland.

I am also fortunate enough to have had the opportunities to have experience fabricating a tubular chassis as well as tig welding different materials including aluminium, Chrome Molly, Stainless Steel and mild steel.

I believe these experiences will aid me in building one of the best engineered and designed cars on the track which will help me with having a better chance of winning the championship. However I need your help to build this car.

BUDGET

The $10,000 will pay for the materials needed to build the chassis and the cost for some additional component upgrades such as suspension and safety equipment. Some components will be reused from my current car such as the engine, wheels, gearbox, and dash components like rev counter, lap timing and data acquisition systems.

If there is money left over or a higher amount than the set goal is raised, it will be put into funding the running costs of the car such as race entry fees, track testing fees.

THE BACKER JOURNEY

If you pledge you will get exclusive updates on my journey. This will include written updates and media such as photos and videos sharing my experience with you, from the start of the build to when the car is on the track, this will also include all the dates of when I will be racing.

For those that pledge over $500 you will be given opportunities to meet me and view the car first hand throughout numerous stages of my journey and will be invited trackside to exclusive track testing.